U.S. patent application number 10/514749 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for power tool with additional function.
Invention is credited to Shirane, Takayuki.
Application Number | 20050152131 10/514749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29545051 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050152131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shirane, Takayuki |
July 14, 2005 |
Power tool with additional function
Abstract
The present invention provides an electric tool which includes
an electrical device, such as a radio, as an additional function,
and is lightweight and easy to handle for operation. The electric
tool includes a lithium-ion secondary battery as a power supply,
and is equipped with an electrical device, which operates on small
electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary battery.
Inventors: |
Shirane, Takayuki; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP
600 13TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3096
US
|
Family ID: |
29545051 |
Appl. No.: |
10/514749 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 24, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP03/05313 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/119 ;
362/253 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 23/00 20130101;
B25B 23/18 20130101; B25B 21/00 20130101; B25F 5/00 20130101; B25F
5/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/119 ;
362/253 |
International
Class: |
F21V 033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2002 |
JP |
2002-144238 |
Claims
1. An electric tool equipped with an additional function, said
electric tool comprising a lithium-ion secondary battery to serve
as a power supply and an electrical device which operates on small
electric power supplied from said lithium-ion secondary
battery.
2. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device keeps
consuming said small electric power supplied from said lithium-ion
secondary battery when said electrical device is electrically
connected to said lithium-ion secondary battery.
3. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, further comprising a battery pack
including said lithium-ion secondary battery, said electrical
device being installed integrally in said battery pack.
4. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electric tool is an electric
driver.
5. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a
radio.
6. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a
clock.
7. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a
light.
8. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a
display unit.
9. The electric tool equipped with an additional function in
accordance with claim 8, wherein said display unit has at least one
of a function of displaying the remaining power of said lithium-ion
secondary battery, and a clock function.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to electric tools, such as
electric drivers for use in screw fastening work.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Electric tools, such as electric drivers, for use in the
screw fastening work have hitherto been used primarily in
construction sites and the like for business purposes as they
permit significant improvement in operative efficiency. In recent
years, they are available at home improvement centers and the like,
and have come to be generally used for home carpentry.
[0003] In home carpentry, the price of an electric tool per one
operation is expensive because of a low frequency of the use
thereof. Thus, electric tools have been required to provide some
sort of added value. Moreover, since portable radios are often
brought into working operation sites, there have been proposed
configurations in which a radio is added to a charger for charging
a battery of an electric tool (e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent
Publication No. 2000-92726: corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,070
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,496,688). However, in operation sites used by
operation workers, commercial power supplies are often not
prepared. Further, it is often the case that a customer having
ordered working operations bears electrical expenses thereof. For
these reasons, in many cases, spare batteries are prepared in
working operation sites and batteries are not charged. It is
therefore necessary to add some sort of value not to a charger, but
to an electric tool itself.
[0004] Since a person holds an electric tool with his hand while at
work, however, it needs to-be light enough for portability. This
has made it impossible to add an additional function which would
cause a weight increase of an electric tool.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] In view of the aforesaid conventional problem, an object of
the present invention is to provide an electric tool which is
lightweight and easy to handle for operation, even with an addition
function added thereto.
[0006] For the purpose of achieving the above object, an electric
tool equipped with an additional function in accordance with the
present invention is one comprising a lithium-ion secondary battery
as a power supply, characterized in that the electric tool is
equipped with an electrical device as an additional function, which
operates on small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion
secondary battery.
[0007] Since lithium-ion secondary batteries are lighter than
nickel-cadmium storage batteries and nickel-metal hydride storage
batteries, which have conventionally been used for electric tools,
it is possible to equip a lithium-ion secondary battery with an
additional function having a weight corresponding to a weight
difference between either of the aforesaid two sorts of storage
batteries and a lithium-ion secondary battery. For example, ten
nickel-metal hydride storage batteries of sub-C size, having a
total weight of 550 g, are used in an electric driver. When these
batteries are replaced with lithium-ion secondary batteries, eight
lithium-ion secondary batteries of 18650 size are sufficient to
obtain the equivalent total battery electric power. In this case,
the total weight is 320 g, with a 200-g weight margin.
[0008] Further, according to the present invention, since the
additional function operates on small electric power, the electric
power of the battery as the power supply is not consumed so much.
Also, there is a disadvantage peculiar to lithium-ion secondary
batteries. The disadvantage is that, when a lithium-ion secondary
batter is stored in a fully charged state, i.e., when the power of
a fully charged lithium-ion secondary battery is not consumed, the
battery will deteriorate specifically. However, in the case of the
electric tool equipped with an additional function in accordance
with the present invention, even when the electric tool is not
used, the additional function consumes the power of the battery,
thereby producing the effect of preventing the disadvantage.
[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the electrical device
continue to consume small electric power supplied from the
lithium-ion secondary battery when the electrical device is
electrically connected to the lithium-ion secondary battery. This
can be exemplified by electrical devices, such as clocks, assumed
to usually keep operating and thus keep consuming small electric
power. Another preferable example may be electrical devices, such
as radios, that keep consuming small electric power through a
quiescent current or the like even when they are switched off. The
continuous consumption of the battery electric power by the
electrical device results in more certain generation of the effect
of inhibiting the disadvantage of specific deterioration of the
lithium-ion secondary battery during storage in a sully charged
state.
[0010] It is further preferable that the lithium-ion secondary
battery be included in a battery pack, and that the electrical
device be installed integrally in the battery pack. This
configuration of integrating the electrical device and the
lithium-ion secondary battery with the battery pack enables
continuous consumption of battery electric power by the electrical
device, even with the battery pack (lithium-ion secondary battery)
removed from the main body of the electric tool, and it is thereby
possible to continuously generate the effect of inhibiting the
disadvantage of specific deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary
battery during storage in a sully charged state.
[0011] A brief description will be given of the specific
deterioration of lithium-ion secondary batteries. Lithium-ion
secondary batteries often cause the following phenomenon as their
general properties: when the battery is stored at a high
temperature, an active material reacts with an electrolyte to form
a coating film on the active material surface of the battery, or
gas is generated through the reaction to cause expansion of the
battery.
[0012] This phenomenon is related to the depth of battery charge,
the temperature at which the battery is allowed to stand, and the
time for which the battery is allowed to stand. Specifically, the
larger the depth of the battery charge, or the higher the
temperature at which the battery is allowed to stand, or the longer
the time for which the battery is allowed to stand at a high
temperature, the more markedly the phenomenon occurs. When a
battery is allowed to stand in a fully charged state at 40 to
50.degree. C. for about a week, for example, deterioration in
discharge characteristic of the battery associated with the
formation of a coating film, and deterioration in discharge
characteristic and cycle life characteristic due to the battery
expansion, are markedly observed.
[0013] In the present invention, this phenomenon has been described
as specific deterioration. According to the present invention, it
is possible to prevent the specific deterioration from occurring
even in the case where the electric tool is allowed to stand in a
high-temperature atmosphere at about 40 to 70.degree. C. for a long
period of time.
[0014] It is also preferable that the electric tool be an electric
driver. An electric driver is often carried with a person by means
of a portable belt even during a working operation not using the
electric driver, and hence has an advantage of making an additional
function well utilized.
[0015] It is also preferable that the electrical device comprise at
least one of a radio, clock and light. It is further preferable
that the electrical device comprise a display unit, and in
particular that the display unit comprise at least one of a
function of displaying the remaining power of a battery, and a
clock function.
[0016] These electrical devices are in regular use in working
operation sites and at homes, and therefore highly convenient as
additional functions for users of electric tools. Further, the
installation of these electrical devices in electric tools as
additional functions can generate the effect of allowing users of
those electric tools to handle the electric tools carefully.
Moreover, it is particularly favorable to install a display unit
having a function of displaying the remaining power of a battery,
since this makes it possible to predict when the battery needs to
be replaced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a radio, in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a clock, in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a light, in accordance with Embodiment 3 of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a display unit having a function of displaying the
remaining power of a battery, and a clock function, in accordance
with Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representing a
constitutional example of electrical connection of an electric tool
equipped with an additional function in each Embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram representing an example
of a clock as an electrical device, in accordance with Embodiment 2
of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram representing an example
of a light as an electrical device, in accordance with Embodiment 3
of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram representing an example
of a display unit as an electrical device, in accordance with
Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0025] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will
be described in detail based on specific examples, using attached
drawings.
EMBODIMENT 1
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a radio based on Embodiment 1 of the present
invention. A housing 1 with a rotation drive built therein is
provided with a handle 2. A battery pack 3 is provided on the end
of the handle 2, which engages a latch 4. The handle 2 is also
provided with a switch trigger 5, and while triggering the switch
trigger 5, a driver bit 7 which is fixed by a one-touch holder 6
can be rotated. The rotating direction at this time can be varied
by a push button 8.
[0027] In the present embodiment, in addition to the lithium-ion
secondary battery, a radio circuit is housed in the battery pack 3,
and the side surface of the battery pack 3 is provided with a
power-on switch 9, a volume switch 10, and a tuner switch 11, of
the radio. When the power-on switch 9 is turned on and then the
volume switch 10 and the tuner switch are suitably adjusted, a
sound comes from a speaker 12.
[0028] Simultaneously, small electric power supplied from the
lithium-ion secondary battery is consumed by the use of this radio,
even when the electric driver is not in use, thereby enabling
inhibition of the disadvantage of specific deterioration of the
lithium-ion secondary battery during storage in a fully charged
state.
[0029] In the present embodiment, since the battery pack 3 is added
with a radio, the radio is usable even when removed from the
electric driver main body. In other words, the radio can consume
small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary
battery even when the battery pack 3 has been removed from the
electric driver main body. This can inhibit the disadvantage of
specific deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery during
storage in a fully charged state.
[0030] In the present embodiment, the electric tool, the
lithium-ion secondary battery and an additional function portion
comprising the electrical device are suitably connected
electrically in the electric tool equipped with an additional
function. One of the examples thereof will be described below,
using FIG. 5.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representing a
constitutional example of electrical connection of an electric tool
(electric driver) 50 equipped with an additional function in
accordance with the present embodiment (and also applicable to the
other embodiments). In FIG. 5, the electric tool 50 equipped with
an additional function comprises an electric tool (electric driver)
main body portion 51, and a lithium-ion secondary battery portion
52 that is electrically connected to the electric tool main body
portion 51, and for supplying electric power to the electric tool
main body portion 51. The electric tool 50 equipped with an
additional function further comprises an additional function
portion which comprises: (1) a small electric power output portion
53 that is electrically connected to the lithium-ion secondary
battery portion 52, and for outputting small electric power on
reception of electric power from the lithium-ion secondary battery;
and (2) an electrical device (radio) 54 that is electrically
connected to the small electric power output portion 53 and
electrically driven by small electric power supplied from the small
electric power output portion 53. The electrical device (radio) 54
comprises a radio circuit portion 56 driven by small electric power
supplied from the small electric power output portion 53, and a
radio main body portion 57 (a speaker 12 etc.) connected to the
radio circuit portion 56.
[0032] At the midway point of an electrical connection wire between
the electric tool main body portion 51 and the lithium-ion
secondary battery 52, an electric connector 55 is provided if
required. This permits such a configuration that the lithium-ion
secondary battery 52, or a battery pack containing the lithium-ion
secondary battery 52, the small electric power output portion 53
and the electrical device (radio), can be removed from the electric
tool main body portion 51 to be used as a radio.
[0033] It is preferable in the present embodiment in the case where
the radio is electrically connected to the lithium-ion secondary
battery that the radio consume small electric power supplied from
the lithium-ion secondary battery through a quiescent current even
when switched off. This is because such consumption of small
electric power can certainly inhibit the disadvantage of specific
deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery during storage
in a fully charged state.
[0034] In FIG. 5 and the present embodiment, it is assumed that the
electrical device 54 is a radio. However, this constitutional
example of FIG. 5 is not limited to the present embodiment, but in
common with other Embodiments 2 to 4 as later described. In the
present embodiment, a radio is used as the electrical device;
however, in Embodiments 2 to 4, a clock, a light and a display unit
(e.g. a display of the remaining power of a battery, and a clock
display) are used respectively as the electrical device in place of
the radio. Except that, the same configuration to that in FIG. 5 as
well as the present embodiment is applied.
[0035] Further, a radio circuit portion 56 and a speaker are
operated on small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion
secondary battery. This small electric power is in an amount
ignorable as compared with electric power required for the rotation
drive of the electric driver main body. Moreover, the lithium-ion
secondary battery within the battery pack 3 is charged when its
amount of electricity has decreased to a certain degree in order to
normally drive the rotation drive. This can produce the following
effect: For example, in the case where a radio including a battery
as an independent power source is not electrically connected to the
battery pack 3, but simply installed therein mechanically, there
are problems in that the battery is dead when a person wants to
listen to the radio, or in that it takes all the trouble to replace
the power supply just for listening to the radio. As opposed to
this, the present embodiment has the effect of eliminating such
problems.
[0036] It should be noted that the radio is installed in the
battery pack 3 in the present embodiment. It is thereby possible,
as thus described, to obtain the effect generated by the
integration of the lithium-ion secondary battery with the radio
even when the battery pack has been removed from the electric
driver main body. When such an effect is not required, however, the
radio may be installed in the electric driver main body, such as
the housing 1.
EMBODIMENT 2
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a clock in accordance with Embodiment 2 of the
present invention. In FIG. 2, elements with the same numeral
signals as those elements in FIG. 1 have the same names and
functions as those elements in FIG. 1.
[0038] In the present embodiment, in addition to the lithium-ion
secondary battery, a clock-driving circuit is housed in the battery
pack 3, and the side surface of the battery pack 3 is provided with
a clock (electrical device) 14. This indicates the time.
[0039] This clock at the same time enables inhibition of the
disadvantage of specific deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary
battery during storage in a fully charged state, even when the
electric driver is not used.
[0040] A constitutional example of electrical connection of an
electric driver equipped with a clock based on the present
embodiment is one obtained by replacing the electrical device
(radio) 54 in FIG. 5 with a clock 14 as shown in the schematic
block diagram in FIG. 6. Weak current power output in FIG. 6
corresponds to output from the small electric power output portion
53 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the clock 14 comprises a clock-driving
circuit portion 66 that is driven by small electric power from the
lithium-ion secondary battery, and a clock display unit 67.
[0041] In the present embodiment, since the battery pack 3 is added
with a clock 14, the clock 14 can be used after the battery pack 3
is removed from the electric driver main body portion (electric
tool main body portion). In other words, the clock can consume
small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary
battery even when the battery pack 3 has been removed from the
electric driver main body. This can inhibit the disadvantage of
specific deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery during
storage in a fully charged state.
[0042] Further, small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion
secondary battery, operating the clock-driving circuit, is in an
amount ignorable as compared with electric power required for the
rotation drive of the electric driver main body. Moreover, the
lithium-ion secondary battery within the battery pack 3 is charged
when its amount of electricity has decreased to a certain degree in
order to normally drive the rotation drive. This can produce the
following effect: For example, in the case where a clock including
a battery as an independent power source is not electrically
connected to the battery pack 3, but simply installed therein
mechanically, there are problems in that the battery abruptly goes
dead, or in that it takes all the trouble to replace the power
supply just for activating the clock. As opposed to this, the
present embodiment has the effect of eliminating such problems.
[0043] It should be noted that the clock is installed in the
battery pack 3 in the present embodiment. It is thereby possible,
as thus described, to obtain the effect generated by the
integration of the lithium-ion secondary battery with the clock
even when the battery pack has been removed from the electric
driver main body. When such an effect is not required, however, the
clock may be installed in the electric driver main body, such as
the housing 1.
EMBODIMENT 3
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a schematic oblique view of an electric driver
equipped with a light in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 3, elements with the same numeral
signals as those elements in FIG. 1 have the same names and
functions as those elements in FIG. 1.
[0045] In the present embodiment, the housing 1 is provided with a
light (electrical device) 15 whose power supply is the lithium-ion
secondary battery, and the handle 2 is added with a light switch
16. This configuration allows this light to be used like a
flashlight. When a person works at a dark place, for example, under
an automobile, the person can shine light on necessary places such
as screws, so that the person can see the places clearly.
[0046] The use of this light at the same time enables inhibition of
the disadvantage of specific deterioration of the lithium-ion
secondary battery during storage in a fully charged state, even
when the electric driver is not used.
[0047] A constitutional example of electrical connection of an
electric driver equipped with a light based on the present
embodiment is one obtained by replacing the electrical device
(radio) 54 in FIG. 5 with a light 15 as shown in the schematic
block diagram in FIG. 7. Weak current power output in FIG. 7
corresponds to output from the small electric power output portion
53 in FIG. 5.
[0048] The light 15 operates on small electric power supplied from
the lithium-ion secondary battery. This small electric power is in
an amount ignorable as compared with electric power required for
the rotation drive of the electric driver main body. Moreover, the
lithium-ion secondary battery within the battery pack 3 is charged
when its amount of electricity has decreased to a certain degree in
order to normally drive the rotation drive. This can produce the
following effect: For example, in the case where a light including
a battery as an independent power source is not electrically
connected to the battery pack 3, but simply installed therein
mechanically, there are problems in that the power abruptly goes
dead, or in that it takes all the trouble to replace the power
supply just for turning on the light. As opposed to this, the
present embodiment has the effect of eliminating such problems.
[0049] It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, two
lights 15 are installed in the upper part of the housing 1;
however, only one light may be applied, or a plurality of lights
may be installed on the side of the housing 1. The light 15 can
also be installed integrally on the side surface of the battery
pack 3. Therefore, the light can consume small electric power
supplied from the lithium-ion secondary battery even when the
battery pack 3 has been removed from the electric driver main body,
thereby enabling inhibition of the disadvantage of specific
deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery during storage
in a fully charged state.
EMBODIMENT 4
[0050] FIG. 4 shows an oblique view of an electric driver equipped
with a display unit having a function of displaying the remaining
power of a battery, as well as a clock function, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, elements with
the same numeral signals as those elements in FIG. 1 have the same
names and functions as those elements in FIG. 1.
[0051] In the present embodiment, in addition to the lithium-ion
secondary battery, a circuit of detecting remaining battery power
and a clock circuit are housed in the battery pack 3, and the side
surface of the battery pack 3 is provided with a display unit 19
equipped with a remaining battery power display portion 17 and a
clock display portion 18. The side surface is further equipped with
time-setting 20 and an alarm-setting 21. This shows the time, and
also when the lithium-ion secondary battery needs to be
replaced.
[0052] The use of this display unit also enables the inhibition of
the disadvantage of specific deterioration of the lithium-ion
secondary battery during storage in a fully charged state, even
when the electric driver is not used.
[0053] A constitutional example of electrical connection of an
electric driver equipped with a display unit based on the present
embodiment is one obtained by replacing the electrical device
(radio) 54 in FIG. 5 with a display unit 19 as shown in the
schematic block diagram in FIG. 8. Weak current power output in
FIG. 8 corresponds to output from the small electric power output
portion 53 in FIG. 5
[0054] In FIG. 8, the display unit 19 comprises: a remaining
battery power detecting circuit portion 86 for detecting the
remaining power of the lithium-ion secondary battery based on small
electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary battery; a
remaining battery power display portion 17 for displaying the
remaining power of the battery, which is detected by the detecting
circuit portion 86; a clock circuit portion 88 driven by small
electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary battery; and
a clock display portion 18 for displaying output of the clock
circuit portion.
[0055] In the present embodiment, since the battery pack 3 is added
with the display unit having a clock function comprising the clock
circuit portion 88 and the clock display portion 18, the clock
function, namely the display unit, can be used even when having
been removed from the electric driver main body. In other words,
the clock function, namely the display unit, can consume small
electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary battery even
when the battery pack 3 has been removed from the electric driver
main body. This can inhibit the disadvantage of specific
deterioration of the lithium-ion secondary battery during storage
in a fully charged state.
[0056] Further, the aforesaid circuits (the remaining battery power
detecting circuit portion 86 and clock circuit portion 88) operate
on small electric power supplied from the lithium-ion secondary
battery. This small electric power is in an amount ignorable as
compared with electric power required for the rotation drive of the
electric driver main body. Moreover, the lithium-ion secondary
battery within the battery pack 3 is charged when its amount of
electricity has decreased to a certain degree in order to normally
drive the rotation drive. This can produce the following effect:
For example, in the case where a display unit including a battery
as an independent power source is not electrically connected to the
battery pack 3, but simply installed therein mechanically, there
are problems in that the power abruptly goes dead, or in that it
takes all the trouble to replace the power supply just for
activating the display unit. As opposed to this, the present
embodiment has the effect of eliminating such problems.
[0057] It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the
display unit having a function of displaying the remaining power of
a battery, as well as a clock function, is installed in the battery
pack 3. It is thereby possible, as thus described, to obtain the
effect generated by the integration of the lithium-ion secondary
battery with the display unit even when the battery pack has been
removed from the electric driver main body. When such an effect is
not required, however, the display unit may be installed in the
electric driver main body, such as the housing 1.
[0058] Industrial Applicability
[0059] As thus described, according to the electric tool equipped
with an additional function of the present invention, it is
possible to utilize and take enjoyment in an additional function,
such as a radio, while improving portability. It is further
possible to inhibit specific deterioration peculiar to a
lithium-ion secondary battery when the battery is stored in a fully
charged state. Moreover, with the electrical device added, it
becomes less likely that a tool is roughly used as a substitute for
a hammer, which is under the ban in an instruction manual, thereby
generating the effect of reducing the possibility that users of
electric tools make complaints against manufactures thereof.
* * * * *